clinical social work association

The Clinical Social Work Association is stunned and outraged at the violence by white supremacists that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, yesterday.  CSWA sends our best wishes and prayers to the families of those who injured and killed in Charlottesville.  We oppose bigotry in any form and encourage all Americans to make it clear that our country will not stand for ‘internal’ terrorism based on prejudice.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are now 917 hate groups in the United State (www.splcenter.org) .  There has been a 67% increase in hate crimes (from 2014) as of 2015, the latest data available, according to the FBI (https://ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2015) .

CSWA is disturbed by the fact that President Trump’s original statement about the incidents in Charlottesville was such a weak condemnation of the clear bigotry that led to the deaths of three people.  His support of actions based on discrimination during his campaign paved the way for white extremist groups to act destructively toward those that they see as their enemies.

We call upon President Trump to speak out against this rage that has been simmering in some of our citizens and stop this dangerous trend.  It is time for all Americans to take a stand against those of us whose racist anger is turning into actions that hurt or destroy those they hate.